Confusing Glass Ponies - Old and NewBy Mark Chervenka

Confusing glass ponies Old and New

Molds originally worked by Paden City in the 1940s were placed back in production. The original molds for Paden City's 5½-inch and 11½-inch ponies were worked at Mosser Glass in Ohio. These molds have been in and out of production for over 60 years.

The original pony molds were ordered and owned by Barth Art, a glass finishing business. Barth Art jobbed the production to Paden City Glass which worked the molds. In addition to the 5½-inch pony shown here, Barth also made a matching 11½-inch pony. No ponies made by Paden City for Barth were marked.

Viking Glass acquired both pony molds from Barth about 1951. Viking reissued the 11½-inch piece in colors in 1974. Viking's successor, Dalzell-Viking, reissued the 11½-inch piece in crystal in 1994. The 1994 reissues were marked Dalzell.

Both the 5½ and 11½-inch molds are now owned by Mosser Glass which has both sizes back in production. The small size is being made in purple slag, iridized (carnival) purple slag, transparent cobalt blue, transparent dark green, jadite and vaseline (shown here). The large size is being made in jadite and vaseline only. Mosser ponies are $24 for the 5½-inch; $72 for the 11½-inch.

As if collectors didn't have enough trouble dating the Paden figures, they must also separate Paden ponies from a similarly sized Heisey pony figure. Heisey made its pony from 1942 through about 1952. The first color was crystal made ca. 1942-1952. Cobalt blue was made in the early 1940s; amber in the 1950s. Most crystal is marked; amber is unmarked; some cobalt is marked.

After Imperial Glass acquired the Heisey molds, it made the 5" pony from 1976 to 1984 in 9 different colors, two in a satin finish. The pony mold is now owned by Heisey Collectors of America, a nonprofit collectors club. The club had Fenton reissue the 5" pony for sale in the club's museum gift shop. Only colors not used in vintage production are used in the club's molds.

The base of the Heisey/Imperial pony is rectangular; the Paden City/Mosser pony has an oval base. A Paden City/Mosser pony does not have glass between the legs. Glass fills in the area between the legs of the Heisey/Imperial pony. Finally, the Heisey pony is only 5 inches; the Paden/Mosser pony is 5½ inches. Heisey made its pony in only the 5-inch size. The Paden/Mosser pony was made in two original sizes, 5½ and 11½ inches, both of which were placed back in production. The Mosser Padenstyle ponies have the molded Mosser "M" mark.

Fig. 1 Molded mark on the new pony in Fig. 2. The letter "M" in a circle is the mark of Mosser Glass of Ohio.

Fig. 2 New vaseline glass 5½-inch pony made from original ca. 1940s Paden City mold.

Figs. 3-4 Collectible ponies from the Heisey mold may be marked either Heisey or Imperial Glass.

Fig. 5 A similar pony was made by Heisey. The original molds were also used by Imperial Glass.

Fig. 6 Bases of the glass ponies seen from the bottom. Paden City ponies have an oval base. The Heisey base is rectangular.